Eden
was and is an interesting place. It is also called the “garden of God”. When Adam
sinned, it became closed off and for good reason; however Jesus had a plan to
gain entrance once again. While God’s garden stayed in God’s control after the
fall, the devil had the right to keep people in Hades after death because he
stole it, along with power over man, from Adam. Jesus came to earth with a
plan, the first part has been executed, and the second part is in the future
when Jesus comes to take back the earth. We are living between phase one and
phase two. Let’s explore Eden and the lower regions.
OT:5731
`Eden (ay'-den); the same as OT:5730 (masculine); Eden, the region of Adam's
home: KJV - Eden.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
First
of all, God planted the garden on the east side of Eden. Adam wasn’t made in
Eden yet, once the garden was finished, Adam was placed in Eden.
Gen
2:7-10 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.8 And the Lord
God planted a garden eastward in Eden [5731]; and there he put the man whom he
had formed.9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is
pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of
the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.10 And a river went out
of Eden [5731]to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became
into four heads.KJV
What
we should notice is that Adam was formed somewhere other than the east side of
the Garden of Eden. God planted trees in the garden, on the east side of Eden. We
see the tree of life is planted in the middle of the garden, as well as the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We also see rivers that went out from
Eden.
Gen
2:15-17 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden [5731]
to dress it and to keep it.16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17 But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.KJV
Adam
was put into the garden to be its gardener. Let’s look at the words for dress and keep.
OT:5647`abad
(aw-bad'); a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve,
till, (causatively) enslave, etc.: KJV -
be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,
execute, husbandman, keep, labour (-ing
man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ingself,), (be, become) servant
(-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be
wrought, worshipper,(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:8104
shamar (shaw-mar'); a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with
thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:KJV - beward, be
circumspect, take heed (toself), keep (-erself,), mark, look narrowly, observe,
preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch
(-man).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
It
was Adam’s job to keep the garden growing properly. It was also his job to
guard it; who or what did he have to guard the garden from? Since Adam did not
know good or bad he probably would not have been militant about guarding it,
but instead would have been a guardian over its growth. We know that Adam lived
nearly 1000 years, one day on God’s calendar. So what happened after Adam and
Eve ate from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil?
Gen
3:22-24 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know
good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree
of life, and eat, and live for ever [5769]: 23Therefore the Lord God sent him
forth from the garden of Eden [5731], to till the ground from whence he was
taken.24 So he drove out [1644]the man; and he placed at the east of the garden
of Eden [5731] Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep
[1870] the way of the tree of life.KJV
Adam
was sent back to the place where he came from before being put in the Garden of
Eden. He then had to work the ground, to enslave
it to his desire to grow. Elohim set guards, Cherubim, and a sword which turned
to keep the road to the tree of life inaccessible. Adam had been the guardian
of the garden, now Cherubim and a sword guarded or protected the garden from
Adam. As we understand, if Adam ate of the tree of life he would live in his
fallen state forever, damning and dooming his progeny to eternal “sin life”.
Adam would have vanished into eternity and been concealed from sight.
OT:5769`owlam
(o-lawm'); or `olam (o-lawm'); from OT:5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the
vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e.
(practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with
prepositional prefix) always: KJV - alway (-s), ancient (time), any more,
continuance, eternal, (for, [n-]) ever (-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long
(time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world
(+without end). Compare OT:5331, OT:5703.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994,
2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:5956`alam (aw-lam'); a primitive root; to
veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively): KJV - any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self),
secret (thing).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
In
order to stop the process that would have taken place had Adam eaten of the tree
of life after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Elohim
had to send him out of the garden. Adam would have been “out of sight” forever,
living eternally in sin. That was not God’s intent for him, so he sent Cherubim
to guard the road to Eden. What strange details this brings up. First Adam was
made somewhere else, and then put into Eden to work and guard it. Next he is sent out of Eden, just in case he
would eat of the tree of life and vanish forever. But Adam wasn’t simply sent
away, he became an ex-patriot, he changed his allegiance or citizenship. Adam
divorced Elohim. Therefore he lost his job in the “country” of Eden and was sent
back to where he was made. Then the road to Eden was blocked so that Adam could
never return.
OT:1644
garash (gaw-rash'); a primitive root; to drive out from a possession;
especially to expatriate or divorce: KJV - cast up (out), divorced (woman),
drive away (forth, out), expel, surely
put away, trouble, thrust out.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:1870
derek (deh'-rek); from OT:1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of
life or mode of action, often adverb: KJV - along, away, because of, by, conversation, custom, [east-] ward,
journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, [high-] [path-] way [-side],
whither [-soever].(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
The
Garden of Eden was a better place for humanity, yet we cannot go there today. Humanity
was created on the earth, and humanity never enjoyed the spiritual dynamic of
Eden other than Adam and Eve. Adam was formed on earth, and humanity procreated
on earth, but the road to Eden was never available to humans until Jesus died.
We will see that in a moment. Adam had the privilege to live in Eden, some say
for 40 years, before he had to leave. Eden is a separate place from earth. It
may be on or in earth or near earth but it is a place that is distanced by a
road. At this time we know that the earth had been refurbished after the cataclysm of Genesis 1:2. Adam was made from
the earth, and then put into Eden. He lost his place in Eden and then was sent back
to the place he was from. The loss of his spiritual cover, the Holy Spirit, may
explain why he had to leave.
Jesus
told Paul to open people’s eyes from darkness to light and from the power or
authority of satan to God. Satan stole Adam’s authority in the garden, and
Jesus had to take it back in a two part plan. Part one happened on the cross to
gain back the keys to hell and death, and part two is soon to come, to take
back the earth and reign as King. Part two starts with the gathering, the
tribulation, and Jesus coming with his armies to fight the Beast who makes war
with the Lamb.
Acts
26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power [authority] of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins,
and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.KJV
This
is an interesting point. The road to Elohim’s garden had to be blocked,
suggesting that Adam could have access to it in his fallen state. Adam could
probably come and go between earth and Eden as he pleased before the fall. Wherever
Eden is, God could not chance Adam or his progeny going there and possibly
eating of the tree of life. Now left on earth, with the devil in authority, Adam,
Eve, and their descendants had to stay under the devil’s power. Also because of
the fall, man was destined to the devil’s control after he died as well. Yet
humans, who now could know good and evil, could choose to live good or evil.
Some chose to seek out Elohim, and they are the redeemed before Christ came to
earth. After Jesus descended and ascended, Jesus told Paul he should tell
people how to receive an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in Jesus
and forgiveness of sins. That is how satan loses his authority over humans
today.
Elohim
Jehovah says to the devil that he is now cursed more than the animals that
can’t speak, and the creatures and vegetation that live on the earth. Satan was
and is an evil magician. He used the body of a snake to speak to Adam and Eve,
this is how they could see his form because they did not know evil. Imagine
what that must be like, not to know or understand the world in terms of good
and evil, but simply live in Eden completely satisfied. They did not see the
fallen angel; Adam and Eve needed to see a physical being to talk to satan.
Satan used the body of a serpent, and while the usage of serpent can be
figurative, it is also literal as the end result is that it will be upon its
belly. Is it possible that by permission a serpent allowed satan to use his
body to bewitch Adam and Eve?
Gen
3:14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent [5175], Because thou hast done
this, thou art cursed [779]above all cattle[929], and above every beast [2416]of
the field [7704]; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the
days of thy life: KJV
OT:5175
nachash (naw-khawsh'); from OT:5172; a snake (from its hiss): KJV - serpent.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:5172 nachash (naw-khash'); a primitive
root; properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to
prognosticate: KJV - certainly, divine,
enchanter, (use) enchantment, learn by
experience, indeed, diligently observe.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:779
'arar (aw-rar'); a primitive root; to execrate: KJV - bitterly curse.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
OT:929
behemah (be-hay-maw'); from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute);
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often
collective):KJV - beast, cattle.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:2416
chay (khah'-ee); from OT:2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine
plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively:(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:7704
sadeh (saw-deh'); or saday (saw-dah'-ee); from an unused root meaning to spread
out; a field (as flat): KJV - country, field, ground, land, soil, wild.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
The
only food satan gets to eat is dirt. Think of this, satan was in Eden, the
garden of God, the fruit trees were there, they were probably delicious. Maybe
since Adam was in charge of the garden of God, satan thought he’d get control
of the garden too. However, it would seem that while Adam was the groundskeeper
satan does not get that privilege. Instead the Garden of Eden was closed
off.
Ezek
28:13 Thou hast been in Eden [5731] the garden of God; every precious stone was
thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the
jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship
of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast
created.KJV
As
mentioned previously, Jesus has a multi part plan to fix this. Jesus had to
undo what Adam did by taking back the keys to hell and death. This means that
wherever hell and death were, they were not in the control of Elohim until
Jesus took that back on the cross. In other words, where people went when their
physical bodies expired was in the control of the devil until Jesus won it back
by being sinless. Hell and death could not hold a sinless being. The devil had
the right to hold humans because they were not sinless. Whatever authority
satan has now, does not include hell and death. As we have previously studied,
hell and death were compartments of the grave. Some people were in Hades, and some
death or the grave. Jesus, when speaking of the rich man and Lazarus, points
out hell (Hades) and death. Abraham’s bosom is also known as Abraham’s bay or
creek, therefore there is a compartment of the grave that is different for the
righteous. This is the place of the righteous dead. There are other compartments
as well but suffice it to say Jesus now has the keys and authority over those
places, which is why he took people to Paradise after his death on the cross.
Jesus showed himself announcing who he was to the imprisoned spirits and took
the redeemed out to another compartment that had been there all along, but it
was not being used.
It
is mentioned in describing Lucifer in Isaiah 14:17 that he didn’t open the
house of his prisoners. When Lucifer had control of the grave, he did not let
the righteous go to the proper compartment in the grave. He kept them in a
place called Abraham’s bay, or creek that had a gulf or chasm between the people
legally sent to Hades and the righteous ones who should have gone somewhere
else. That’s one of the things satan stole, the ability for the redeemed, those
righteous people, to go to Paradise.
Isa
14:17-19 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof;
that opened not the house of his prisoners?18 All the kings of the nations,
even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.19 But thou art cast
out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that
are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit;
as a carcase trodden under feet.KJV
The
context is the grave; satan had control of the grave for a time. This is why
when Jesus died and the graves opened, and the dead people walked around
telling what happened, they said Jesus witnessed to the imprisoned spirits and
took them to Paradise; as written in the Acts of Pontius Pilate, aka the Book
of Nicodemus. Jesus went to the lower parts of the earth and preached to the
spirits that were in prison and also showed himself in victory over the grave.
Col
2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.KJV
Eph
4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that
he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended
is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all
things.) KJV
Where
did Jesus go? He went to the lower parts of the earth. What’s in the lower
parts of the earth? Obviously the conscious grave, not the box six feet under;
there is a collective place where there is consciousness where the human spirit
goes. When the graves opened in Matthew 27:52-53, the spiritual beings went
into the city with their physical bodies.
Phil
2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.KJV
Even
the beings under the earth have to bow to Jesus.
1
Peter 3:18-20 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits
in prison;20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of
God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few,
that is, eight souls were saved by water.KJV
This
is a rough translation so let’s look at a couple of others.
1
Peter 3:18-21 That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others'
sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all — was
put to death and then made alive — to bring us to God. 19 He went and
proclaimed God's salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of
judgment 20 because they wouldn't listen. You know, even though God waited
patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then,
eight to be exact — saved from the water by the water. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary
Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
1Peter
3:19 And He preached to the souls who were in submission to Sheol, (Aramaic New
Testament, translated by Victor Alexander, copyright 2010, pg 463)
This
is a great translation, the souls (spirits) in submission to Sheol is where
Jesus went to preach. The redeemed knew a redeemer was coming to rescue them by
the stories in the heavens. They, the redeemed people before Jesus came, were
like Andromeda; they were in chains in prison. The devil did not let them go to
the proper compartment in the grave. But when Jesus came to the lower parts of
the earth, he took the keys to hell and death.
Rev
1:17-18 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right
hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:18 I am he
that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have
the keys of hell [Hades] and of death.KJV
Let’s
look at the book The Secrets of Enoch for a recap of what we saw in the Bible. Adam
in the garden, then taken out of the garden, then the place of the dead, and
the ones who once had the keys to hell.
The Secrets of Enoch:
Chapter 31, XXX 1 Adam has
life on earth, and I created a garden in Eden in the east, that he should observe the testament and
keep the command. 2 I made the heavens open to him, that he should see
the angels singing the song of victory, and the gloomless light. 3 And
he was continuously in paradise, and the devil understood that I wanted to create another world,
because Adam was lord on earth, to rule and control
it.4 The devil is the evil spirit of the lower places, as a fugitive he made Sotona from
the heavens as his name was Satanail (Satan), thus he became different from the angels, (but his nature) did not
change (his) intelligence as far as (his) understanding of
righteous and sinful (things). 5 And he understood his condemnation
and the sin which he had sinned before, therefore he conceived thought
against Adam, in such form he entered and seduced Eva (Eve), but did not touch Adam.6 But I cursed ignorance, but what I had blessed
previously, those I did not curse, I cursed not man, nor the earth, nor other
creatures, but man’s evil fruit, and his works.
Chapter 32, XXXII 1 I said to him: Earth you are, and into
the earth whence I took you you shalt go, and I will not ruin you, but send you
whence I took you. 2 Then I can again receive you at My second
presence.3 And I blessed all my creatures visible (physical) and
invisible (spiritual). And Adam was five and
half hours in paradise. 4 And I blessed the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, on which he rested from all his works.
Chapter
41, XLI 1 And I saw all forefathers
from (all) time with Adam and Eva (Eve), and I sighed and broke into tears and said of the ruin of
their dishonour:2 Woe is me for my infirmity and (for that) of
my forefathers, and thought in my heart and said: 3 Blessed (is) the
man who has not been born or who has been born and shall not sin before
the Lord’s face, that he come not into this place, nor bring the
yoke of this place.
Chapter
42, XLII 1 I saw the key-holders
and guards of the gates of hell standing, like great serpents, and their faces
like extinguishing lamps, and their eyes of fire, their sharp teeth, and I saw
all the Lord’s works, how they are
right, while the works of man are some (good), and others bad, and in
their works are known those who lie evilly.
So
far we have Eden as the garden of God that had a road to it from earth. Adam
could go back to Eden in his fallen state. The devil stole authority over
people from Adam. Somehow the devil had authority over the grave as well. Once
Jesus came and died on the cross, the grave could not contain him and he took
back the keys to hell and death. That is
part one of Jesus’ redemption for humanity.
Eden
is also known as Paradise by some writers, and is described as having lots of
trees. In a veiled rebuke of satan, Ezekiel berates Pharaoh of Egypt, for his
haughtiness. The description is a constant comparison to the trees of Eden. At
that point in history, God seemed to speak to a few political leaders and
countries around Israel. What God points out is their characteristics and behaviors
which are a mirror of Lucifer.
Ezek
31:2-11 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude;
Whom art thou like in thy greatness?.... 7 Thus was he fair in his greatness,
in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.8 The cedars in
the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs,
and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden
of God was like unto him in his beauty.9 I have made him fair by the multitude
of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God,
envied him.10 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself
in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is
lifted up in his height;11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the
mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out
for his wickedness.KJV
Ezek
31:15-18 Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when he went down to the grave I
caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods
thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for
him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.16 I made the nations to
shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that
descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of
Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the
earth.17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with
the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst
of the heathen.18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among
the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto
the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised
with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,
saith the Lord God.KJV
In
Ezekiel 31:16 and 18 God says that Eden is in the nether parts, they (the
trees) are comforted in the lower parts of the earth. There is obviously an
understanding in the Bible that there are lower parts in the earth. While there
are physical things below our feet, rock, dirt, water, oil, lava, there is also
a spiritual dynamic under our feet. God told Moses:
Deut
32:21-22 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have
provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with
those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish
nation.22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest
hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the
foundations of the mountains.KJV
David
says:
Ps
63:9But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts
of the earth.KJV
Ps
86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from
the lowest hell.KJV
Korah
says:
Ps
88:6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.KJV
So
the nether regions or lower parts that Jesus went to are somewhere underneath,
just as Eden must be under us. We know of two trees in particular in Eden, the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or as some translate wisdom, and the
tree of life.
2
Esd 2:11-13 Their glory also will I take unto me, and give these the
everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.12 They shall have the
tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour, nor be
weary.13 Go, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be
shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.KJV
2
Esd 8:49-53 In that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast
not judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.50 For many
great miseries shall be done to them that in the latter time shall dwell in the
world, because they have walked in great pride.51 But understand thou for
thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.52 For unto you is
paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared,
plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed, yea,
perfect goodness and wisdom.53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness
and the moth is hid from you, and corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten:
KJV
The
tree of life is in Paradise. It is for
the people that are humble. Ezra saw the future of Paradise/Eden being made
ready for the righteous. Jesus told the churches that those who overcome He
would give to eat of the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
Rev
2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise [3857] of God.KJV
NT:3857
paradeisos (par-ad'-i-sos); of Oriental origin [compare OT:6508]; a park, i.e.
(specifically) an Eden (place of future happiness, "paradise"): KJV -
paradise.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Paradise
is Eden, Eden is Paradise; two words that are the same place. There is only one
tree of life and it is in Eden and Paradise, which means Eden and Paradise are
the same. This is the place where the tree of life grows and is ready for the
overcomer to eat. The tree of life had to be kept guarded from Adam in his
sinful, spiritually naked state, but the overcomer will not be in a sinful
state or spiritually naked. Jesus paid for our sins. All we have to do is
overcome. While satan tried to keep the righteous dead, those who were
believing the Messiah would come, under his control in death, Jesus rectified
that and took the righteous to Paradise. He took back the keys that locked the
prisoners in hell. Jesus captured captivity. Jesus went to the lower parts and
now every knee under the earth must bow to Him. Now when we leave our physical
bodies, the overcomers can eat of the tree of life. Jesus opened the road to
Eden/Paradise.
Luke
23:43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in
paradise." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by
Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
We
are in the middle of the redemptive plan of the Living God and father of our
Lord Jesus Christ. And as the criminal on the cross called to Jesus to remember
him when Jesus entered his kingdom, Jesus’ response to the criminal shows he
knew where he was headed. Jesus knew the grave would have to give up authority
to Him, so Jesus told the criminal that he would join Him in Paradise. That was
the first part of the plan, to rescue the righteous dead from the grave. The
second part of the plan starts with the gathering of the saints. We are in the
middle, between part one and part two. If Jesus knew he would accomplish the
opening of Paradise while hanging on the cross, then he will accomplish what
has been prophesied regarding part two. As humanity moves through the
prophesied times we live in, we are already more than half way to the execution
of plan number two.
